Use a skeptical eye when perusing information gleaned from football analytics but according to the website Pro Football Focus Chicago Bears Julius Peppers graded out highest of the club’s defensive players Sunday against the Steelers.

The hope now is that Peppers can take that momentum into Chicago’s NFC-North showdown Sunday at Detroit.

“In terms of individual grades I like to leave those in-house” said Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker when asked about Peppers. “But overall I felt good about what he did in the game. We got more pressure this week than we got the week before that and the week before that. So we got more hits on the quarterback.”

Peppers accounted one tackle recovered a fumble and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown against the Steelers. Peppers also contributed four quarterback pressures playing in 47 of the club’s 66 snaps on defense.

In the first two games Peppers generated just two pressures to go with one tackle. But it’s worth noting that in the Sept. 15 meeting with the Vikings Peppers was slowed by flu-like symptoms.

With defensive tackle Henry Melton lost for the season with a torn ACL there’s a chance Peppers could play some snaps inside at tackle as could defensive end Corey Wootton.

“They’ve both been inside and it gives teams a different look different matchups finding weaknesses in fronts and utilizing these guys inside because of their motors and size” Bears coach Marc Trestman said. “That’s all part of scheme working through it each and every week. Whatever Mel and the guys decide are the best matchups we have the capability with those two guys.”